Current Stable Release: OpenCPN 5.6.2 Maintenance Release April 22, 2022

Read the Update Summaries.

• OpenCPN 5.5.9 released on October 2, 2021.
• OpenCPN 5.2.4 released on October 18, 2020. Bug Fix, Graphical & UI Improvements.
• OpenCPN 5.2.0 Summary released on July 15 , 2020.
• OpenCPN 5.0.0 Summary released on March 23, 2019.

Other Resources

• Epub Book - Summary New features.
• Exploring OpenCPN (v4) Required reading YachtValhalla's PDF Tutorial for the new user starting up.

In “OpenCPN” Press the “Question” ? button in the Toolbar and then Help to access the built-in version. The installed documentation will open in your default browser.

This is the first place to go for help, read the documentation please. The Canvas Toolbar is labeled “A” and Toolbar Hamburger is labeled “B”. When OpenCPN is set for dual canvas there are two Canvas Hamburgers

Often, OpenCPN support will require copies of your Configuration Settings File and/or your Log File to diagnose your problem. The “LogFile” opencpn.log and “ConfigFile” opencpn.ini links for this are found in the screenshot above. Click and copy the contents to Clipboard and then copy to a file using your favorite text editor. Attach them to a Cruiser's Forum post.

Additionally this OpenCPN.org online Wiki Manual should answer most new user questions. Navigation by the DokuWiki “Search” field above. For unanswered questions use the OpenCPN Forum and use your browser's built-in search ability, known as Find“ (Alt+F).

See Support File Details

• OpenCPN-4.8.2.7z (doc482.7z) 20mb HTML files and directories. Uncompress into a new folder and use your browser to access the help files.
• OpenCPN-4-8-6-Sept-18-18-compress-lossy-2-70pc.epub mb (16mb) Epub Book Reader can be used Calibre Reader or Firefox Epub Extension
• OpenCPN-4-8-6-Sept-18-18-medium-compressed.pdf (25mb) PDF OpenCPN User Manual Download
• Android OpenCPN User Manual App by David Register from Google Playstore. It has an embedded eBook reader.

Another technique is to use HTTrack Website Copier and download/mirror the html help files. Download it and make mirror a copy of the current manual to your computer. Don't forget too add filters so that file links are not downloaded! See FAQ For example, add file filters for -*.zip, -*.7z and any other linked files you do not want downloaded.

Getting started using OpenCPN consists of 4 basic steps:

• OpenCPN Installation Will lead you through installing OpenCPN on your particular OS and computer.
• Chart Installation of Charts to be read by OpenCPN (OpenCPN does not include charts)
• Charts Basic Features - Main Source for using charts
• GPS Setup to communicate with your computer and OpenCPN (Optional, but very useful) Completing these 4 steps will get you started and allow you to check out the program.

Also for new Users see PDF Tutorial for the new user Exploring OpenCPN (v4)

For help from a large community of Users Cruisers Forum.

For Advanced users with programming experience we recommend the Developers Manual.